Ball staking machine for pen tips



Sept. 9, 1952 FERBER 2,609,774

BALL STAKING MACHINE FOR PEN TIPS Filed Jan. 10, 1947 2 SHEETS --SHEET l INVENTOR Fred Fer 502".

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 9, 1952 OFFICE BALL STAKI'NG MACHINE FOR PEN 'rrrs Fred Ferber; Hohokus "ownship,

Bergen County, N. J. 9, Application January 10, 1947, Serial No. 721,389

3 Claims. (01. 113-32) This invention comprises an improvement in staking machines, and more particularly a ma chine for mova-bly securing or staking a spherical writing element in operative position at the end of a so-called ball-point pen.

The main object of the invention is to provide a ball-point staking apparatus having a movable carrier to bear a numberof tips for such pens, parts or members for rotating the carrier and working the extremity of each tip in sumcession so that the ballwill be properlyseated therein; members for feeding the balls to the tips, and additional partsor members for treating the tips after the balls are inserted so that displacement ofthe balls is prevented while each ball is left free to revolve in the small cavity at the end or the tip which contains the ball.

Another object is to provide apparatus of the kind mentioned capable of operating with certainty and emciency, and delivering a large output, and designed so that it is relatively simple in construction, comparatively small in size and embraces a minimum number of parts.

The nature and advantages of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the improvement. I do not, however, wish to be limited to the precise structure disclosed herein, but the right is reserved to make changes consistent with the general principle of the apparatus and included in the meanings of the broad terms in which the claims are expressed.

On the drawings, l

Figure 1 is a section on a plane extending from front to back of apparatus according to this invention.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a View partly in section of the delivery connections for the ball staked tips.

Figure 4 presents a detail of the machine on a somewhat enlarged scale.

Figure 5 shows the member for actuating the carrier to move tips from one stage to another.

Figure 6 shows the end of the die forthe final step of permanently confining" the ball after it has been seated in the tip.

Fig. 7 also shows a detail of the machine.

Figure 8 shows another detailin section Figure 8a is a detail of a modification; and

Figure 9 is a top view and Figure 10 a section on line Ill-I0 in Figure 9 of a further detail.

The machine is made of a framework comprising a horizontal bed or foot' I and-an upright support 2' rising therefrom; and secured the top of theb'edl isa base shaving a cylindrical .2 depression 4 therein to'receive a carrier in the form of a circular disk 5. This carrier has a flange around its rim that overlaps the edge of the depression or seat 4 and it has a circular row of holes in it near the outer edge going through from top to bottom, and each holding therein a bushing or nipple 6. These nipples are perforated from endto. end, and each has at its upper extremity a chamfered flange that rests upon the top surface of, the carrier element 5; the opposite end of each nipple being flush with the bottom of the latter. .The nipples B mount and hold the pen tips 1 during the operation of the machine, each tip, as indicated clearly in Figure 2, consisting of a cone-shaped head and a reduced neck, the latte'ryfitting; into the bore of the nipple and the shoulder at. the junction of the head and'neck resting on the flanged top of the nipple oribushing B. The ball is inserted and imprisoned in the small outer end ofthe conical head of the tip. The tips I have a 1ongitudinal :bore or duct for'the passage of ink therethrought For convenience Figure 1 shows only part of the bushings 6.

The process of attaching the ball to the tip is carried out in three steps or stages, each of which involves the operation of a plunger assembly containing a punch-rod; as the nipples 6 and pen '7 tips I move into position to be worked thereby. The plungers are actuated by a power medium that moves a piston in a cylinder 8 at the top of the machine mounted on the upright 2; the piston acting todepress a head 9 at the outer end of the piston rod [0 to strike allthe plunger assemblies at one time. The carrier 5 is attached to a pivot screw stud H having a head at its lowerend and turning in a bearing aperture at the center of the base 3, andcounterbored at the bottom of the base to receive the screw. The plunger assemblies are shown at l2, l3, and Hi, the assembly I3being associated with a transparent feeder hi, all mounted in vertical position and secured in a guide block [5 affixed to the base 3 at the rear, and projectingforward to overlap the carrier 5, but separated therefrom by a space H.

The carrier is moved intermittently by an actu ator elements having a push bar l9 afirted thereto, and disposed to slide back and forth in a 1 guideway 20 in one side of the block -28. The element 18 is confined to the guideway 23 by a retainer plate 21, secured by a screw 28 to the side of the block [6. The par-t I8 is advanced and retracted'lby a cam plate 2| (and the bar' It acts by pushing each nipple in turn. At each 3 working stroke of the bar I 9, moving tangentially of the carrier, the latter is revolved through an are equal to the distance between the centers of the nipples 6. The cam plate is bolted to a yoke 22 having a threaded shank passing through a hole in a projection 24 on the piston head 9 and made fast by nuts 24. The plate 2| has an inclined cam-slot 25 that receives a pin 26 afiixed to the element [8, allas shown'in Figure 5. The push bar I9 is thus advanced at each upstroke of the piston rod [0. Each tip is carried first to bly [3, where a ball is injected into it, and finally to the assembly l5, in which the smaller end of the cone-shaped head of the tip 7 is squeezed" or contracted in minute degree to reduce the diameter of the opening to a width just less than that of the ball, and thus prevent the ball from falling out, while leaving it free to revolve in the tip 1.. The piston is forced down by a power fiuid, such as air, admitted at the upperpart of the cylinder 8, and when the air is exhausted from the cylinder the piston therein is lifted as by a spring or by air admitted under it. 7

In the step by. step rotation of the carrier 5. the latter is always brought to a. stop with the nipples or bushings 6 and tips 1 in correct position beneath the assemblies I2, [3 and i5, by means of an index or controller plate or.member 29, which is moved back and forth in a guideway 30 in the lower side of the guide block I6. The end of this plate is bevelled at both sides 3| in front, and has a width such that, when it is projected between two of the nipples 6 after each forward stroke of the push bar [9, its long axis will be midway between them, and it will thus hold the nipples so that the vertical axis of each is exactly in line with the vertical axis of the plunger assembly under which it is stopped. This effect is produced by the cam action of the symmetrical bevellededges 3| at the front end of the plate 29. The plate 29 and guideway 39 are about at the center of the block [6. In its under side the element 29 has a longitudinal groove 32 that receives a projection on a plate or stop 33 afiixed by a screw 34 to the rear of the base 3, and between said projection and the inner end of the groove 32 isa spring 35. This spring tends to project the element 29-, but the latter has on its rear end 9. lug 36, that is united by a rod 31 suitably affixed thereto as by nuts 38 or otherwise, and passes through a hole 39 in the block 16 to the front thereoi'l where'the rod 37 carries on its end a perforated split head 39 gripped on the rod by a screw'46. To the head 39 is affixed a sliding plate 4|, mounted in a channel in the overhanging part of the block i6 and extending inward through a slot in the-lower extremity of a tubular guide in the assembly IS. The element 29 is pushed back against the spring by the cam action of the circular tops of the nipples 6 against the inclined cornersor edges 3! at the end of said element. Every time thepush bar [9 turns the disk, the element 29 is forced out of the way to allow a nipple to pass it. But the spring 35 immediately impels this element forward again and it always centers the end with the bevelled sides 3| between two adjacent nipples, thus getting them into the exact position required beneath the assemblies l2, l3 and I5. In the element or plate 4| is a hole 42 which is moved into alinement with the axis of the assembly l3 for a purpose to be explained later.

Each of the assemblies l2 and I5 comprises a 4 bushing 43 mounted in a bore in the block l6, said bushing having a shoulder 44 at the lower end to seat against an internal shoulder at the lower end of said bore. In the bushing 43 of the assembly I2 is a movable guide or plunger 45, having a collar 46 in the upper end of the bushing 43, and between this collar and the inner end of the bushing is a spring, surrounding the plunger and seated upon an internal shoulder at the inner end-"of said bushing, The plunger projects through the lower end of the bushing,

and moves through a guide plate 48 affixed to through which the tips I pass. The lower end of the plunger 45 has a recess shown at 5|, and

; thisrecess is shaped to fit upon and envelop the cone-shaped head of the tip I. This detail of the construction is more fully explained in the succeeding pages of this specification. It is sufficient to state here that the recess 5| should be shaped both to fit over the tip I and be Wider at its outer end to engage the top of the bushing 6 also, and directlyunder the guide 45 the groove should be widened at each side, as indicated at 56' to allow the guide 45 to be depressed far enough. V

The plunger or guide 45 has a central longitudinal boretherethrough, and within the bore is a punch rod .or die. 52, that has a reduced lower extremityv 53. The :bore' of' the plunger is also reduced atthe lower. end 54 to fit the extremity 53. The upper. endofthe bore 54in the plunger is threaded and. the rod v52 has a head 55 with kerffor a tool, 'engagingsaid threads, a'screw 56 being also used injthe side of the plunger 45 to lock the pin in'adjusted position. The rod or pin 52 on the downstroke of the head 9 is carried down with the plunger 45 and enters the small end of the cone-shaped. head of the tip 1 in line with the axis thereof and shapes the end of the duct through the tipflto finish the seat for the ball to be inserted intoitu The seat is pre-formed in the tip but requires the rod 52 to complete it.

The tip is next carried beneath the plunger assembly l3,- in front of" which is a magazine or hopper 5.6" in which the balls are stored. This hopperlhas a stem51 which is inserted at its lower end into' a bore 58 in the blockrl6; and from the hopper 5-6 a duct'59iruns down through the stem and into a duct orpassage' 60 through the block H5 at the lower end of the stem51'to the bottom of the injector assembly [3. The latter comprises a rod or pin 6| in a tubular bearing or guide 62 having a' collar 63, which rests on the top of the block I6. The lower end of the guide 62 is exposed inthe space I! under the block l6. This bearing or guide ;has a bore running down through the center of it, as; shown at 64 in Figure 8, the bore being reduced at the lower end and having a conical shoulder, therein. The pin 6| also has .a reduced lower end 65 to fit the reduced lower end 64' of thebore 64 in the bearing 62. On the top of the bearing 62 is a cap-66, and between this cap and the collar 63 is a coiled spring 61. The upper end of, therod 6l appears a fixed cross pin 68-\vhich projects into slots- 69 in the sides of the cap.; {The latter has a stud 10 inside which projects downward into thetubular guide 62,- but is spaced from the upper end of the rod 6 l. The bearing or guide 62 also has longitudinal slots H in its-upperend to give passage to the cross pin 68. The stroke ;of the head '9 comes-at a time after one ofthenipples or bushings 6 has just been moved directly into. vertical line with the rod '16 I and during 4Iis"actuatedso'asto bring'the opening 42, which has received "a balliromthe duct-60; directly beneath the pin 6L Theballfits the opening lli looselyand before"theslide '4I is-returned by the springfth'the ballinsaid opening drops into the steam.

this movement the slide reduced end "64 of the bore 64, below the slide 4| and is retained in the bore 64' by frictional contact. The head next depresses the cap 66 and finally the stud engages the rod- 6 I, so that the ball ispressed down into the end of the tip I. When thehead 9 is raised the spring 61 pushes up the rod 6:3, the pin 65 clearsthe opening, and the slide l isretracted by the spring 35 till -the opening -42 again registers-with the bore in 'thestem til. The bearing or guide tube-52 ismade secure-by a binding screw I2 the block I6. The

guide-62 has'a transverse-opening 4 I a in its lower end for-the plate ll, as, shown in Figure'8.

has-aflarg central bore I3, with a lower reduced portion and a conical'shoulder 75in the lower end. Itcontains a sleeve I5, which also has a reducedsliouldered lower extremity I! (Figure 6) -th'atprojects into the still further reduced out- 1et1s of thebore 'I4,-belowthe shoulder I5. Above the sleeve I6 the-part I3 of the bore opens through thetop of the plunger '45'and has inside screw threads to receivean adjustable threaded head or hot I9, between which and theupper flanged end of the sleeve '56 is a spring 80. The sleeve has a bore 76a through it to receive a rod 8I with a-reduced shouldered end 82, and a reduced portion'83 atthe lower end of the bore 16a. The rod 81 makes contact at its upper end with the nut 79. Between the; portions 'I'Ba and-.83 of the bore in the sleeve 16 is an inside shoulder-84 to lie adjacent the shoulder at the junction of the endtz with the rod SI. The reduced part 83 of the bore in the sleeve It terminates in an expanding or flaringextremity 85. When each tip arrives in turn beneath the assembly I5 and the head 9 nipple next registers with a duct 94 in the base *3that'is coupled to a conduit'95 leading to a valve casing 96. The casing is connected by a conduit "91 to a source of compressed air, and the valve casing is also joined by a conduit '98 to the cylinder 8. The valve in the casing has a rigid external 'arm 99 which is attached to a spring I96 anchored on the part 2 of the frame. From the "arm a vertical link IDI drops downward to a pedal I02 under the base 3. pressed, the arm is pulled against the spring to When the pedal is deturnthe valve to open the conduits 98 to the piston-hand to the duct 94. As the piston drives. the memberor head 9 down to the bushing 6 under it, the air blows thetip out of the bushby projections 99, one on the plate 85, theother Fwlienthe conduit 9'1 ehiit,'-*the cylinder open to-theatrnosphere; and *the'conduit :95 to the base 3 ,is -cut off {from thesupply. Whenthe pedal is depressedrtheoutlet I05 is shut and both conj duits 95 an'd fit putfintocommunication with the supplypipe eI. f t-separate valve can beused for the "conduit'efi, withaj-part infthe path of the head 9 to enablethe'conduitto be openedfor the flow of motive agent to theduct 94 whenever the head 9, makes 4 a}do wnstroke, "the fvalve in casing "e5 remaining connected to the pedal I92.

The lower ends of both guides 45 and &5 are preferably shaped tofit the tops of the "bushings 6 and thefconical heads of the pen tipsI mounted-therein. Thenas theseplungers or guides-aredepressed upon the bushings and thepen tips,"the tips and-the plungers-or guides are 'in correct" operative position when the rods SI land -81 are depressedw Preferably, for this "purpose,;the rn'achine includes a pair of guide plates *such'as' are shown-"M 86 and gl in Figures 9 and '10. Thesetvvo plates can 9 be attached to the'bottomof the overhangingpart-of theguide block It in the-position=shown by theplate it inthe Figural, and'similar plates can be securedunder the guided-5: The two plates have opposed curved faces which areseparated from eachotherby asu'ffioient space toform a groove S8. Thisgroove 'follovvs a 'circu1ar-arc which has the same "radius {as the are which passes through the axes-of the several tips I in the bushings Ea.- The sides of this groove will be paralleladjaoent the upper faces of the two plates, said I faces beinglin :lcontact with the bottom of the overhang ing partiof the block I5.

faces of these twoplates will be approximately the sameas the slope? anddiameter of the coned heads or 'rthe tips :I. When these plates are secured iniposition each tipI can enter one end of the groove iid'andImove around through this groove from one operative position to the next.

"The two plates 86 g-and 81 thus make up a single? guiding unit and they are recessed to present semi-circular spaces 89 to receive the lower ends of .the plungers 45 .and 45. These semi circular spacestextend cross-wise of the groove fis and are fashioned partly; inone plate and partly in another. The-ispacesare separated on plate 8?, these two projections being. in line and separated from one another by a distance equal to the width of the groove 88. The opposing ends of these-projections have the same slope as the lower partsof the sidesof the groove 83, and their-tops slopetdownward towards each other, as indicatedat. 99a inFigure 10.

The guide,-.sucl1--as-the guide. 45' is shown in Figures 1 and- Las having a transverse. notch or recess 9| inits lower end and the ends 92 of this recess are beveled .to correspond to the slope ofthe tops Eda of the ,projections 90. Thesides of thisnotch 9| larerecessed to provide a circular cavity 93 .in the-end ofitheguide oi the *same diametenas the top of the bushing .6, and also to form conical surfaces I2 at each side of the transverse notch or recess to fit upon the tip I. Obviously if the two guide plates are supported so that the projections will be in line with the notch 9| of the guide 45', whenever a bushing 6 is carried underneath the plunger assembly I5, for example, a down stroke of the head 9 will depress the guide '45 to make the lower end of this guide enter the recesses 89 in the guide plates 86 and 81. The bushings 43 and guides 45 and 45' will of course be secured against rotational shiftingin the block l6, by any suitable means. This lower end will straddle the projections 90, because these projections will enter the opposite ends of the transverse slot 91 and the cavity 93 will fit down on the bushing 6. The tip I will then be between the projections 90 and between the conical recesses la at both sides of the notch!!! in the guide 45'. The pen tip 1 will thus be held firmly and in true position. If the guide plates are used in connection with the guide 45 the tip 1 will be exactly in line with the reduced end 54 of the rod 52, and when similar plates are used for the guide 45, theconed head of the tip I will be securely held in line with the rod 81, so that, when the guide is depressed the sleeve 16 will so engage the end of the tip carrying the ball therein, that the inside surface 85 at the lower end thereof will squeeze the end of the tip and make sure of confining the ball therein. While this is being done the reduced end of the rod 81 will rest on top of the ball to prevent displacement of it from the tip during the confining operation. 7

The cam 2| and yoke 22 can be offset to the rear, to give sufiicient clearance, if necessary.

In Figure 8a the bearing 62 is shown as having the same shape as in Figure 8, but in the side thereof at the lower-end is a recess 62' which opens through to the small part of the bore 64' in the lower end just below the opening Ma for the slide 4!. In this recess is secured a spring 62a, one end. of which is bent so that it will project slightly into the small part of the bore 64 just under the space Ma. Hence a ball for the tip of the pen is always retained in the guide 62. even if itdrops a little below the slide 4| after this slidecarries the ball from the stem 51 into the guide 62 and the opening in the slide registers with the bore through which this ball must pass to be seated in the tip 7. The bent inner end of the spring will keep the ball from dropping out of the guide 62, but when the rod 6| is depressed the reduced lower end thereof will drive this ball down and out of the end of the guide and into the pen tip, because the rod 6| will push the ball past the arresting end of the spring 62a.

The apparatus is thus well adapted to serve the purposes of the invention and gain all the objects thereof. 7

Having described my invention, what I believe to be new is:

1. Apparatus for confining balls in conical pen tips having concave seats comprising a rotatably mounted carrier disk having a circular row of equidistant holes therein, a bushing in each hole to receive a tip, a base supporting said carrier, a block on said base overlapping the carrier and having a space between it and the carrier, the latter being movable through said space, a plunger assembly mounted in said block adjacent said row, said assembly including a depressible guide projecting through the block and having a bore presenting an open end to the carrier, a

rod fixed in the guide, the end of said bore being shaped to fit upon the tip when the guide is depressed, the rod having its end within the bore, a second plunger assembly in the block and projecting through it including a guide fixed in the block, a depressible rod in said fixed guide, a magazine adjacent said second assembly, a tubular member connecting said magazine ,to the block adjacent the fixed guide, a slide member at the lower end of. the said member in the block and passing through the second guide, said slide having a hole therein to receive a ball and carry it into line with a bore in the fixed guide to be forced by the rod out of said bore into the seat of the pen tip, a third plunger assembly in the block opening into said space, said third assembly including a deprsesible guide having a spring pressed sleeve therein, and a rod passing through a bore in said sleeve, the lower end of the lastnamed bore being conical to fit over the pen tip and contract the tip while the last-named rod holds the ball in the seat, a head operable to engage all the plunger assemblies simultaneously, the assemblies being disposed at intervals according to the spaces separating said holes, means for actuating the carrier to move the bushings and tips step by step successively into line with each assembly, and spring engaged means in the block for stopping the carrier each time with the bushings in axialalinement with'the plunger assemblies.

2; The apparatus of claim 1 in which the means for rotating the carrier include a diagonally slotted element connected to the plunger, a push rod to engage the bushings in succession, a cam block carrying the rod, a pin on said cam block uniting the block to said slotted element, said spring means in the block being joined to said slide to control the latter.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said block has guide plates under its overlapping part, said plates being separated by curved grooves in line with the tips.

FRED FERBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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